Marijuana vs. Hemp, what you have to know

With the discussion that will occupy the public space, it is necessary to be well informed, as it is at the dawn of an industry that not only means economic growth, but well-being.

Today, to differentiate the marijuana from the hemp or hemp, it is practically impossible, as they differ in their molecular composition: each plant has a unique chemical profile, a cannabinoid profile. The hemp has a concentration of less than 0.3% THC, the cannabis psychoactive that classifies it as a drug. But why is it important to know this?

With the discussion that soon will occupy the public space, it is necessary to be well informed, because it is at the dawn of an industry that not only means economic growth, but welfare and relief for millions of people.

Since when does the human being cohabit with Cannabis?

The first test of the use of cannabis is 2,700 years old and it comes from China; Over the years, the colder climates gave way to a new Cannabis family: hemp, better known as hemp. In 1753, Carl Linnaeus, a Swiss botanist, created the first classification system for Cannabis naming them:

Cannabis Sativa , which had much more height and thinner leaves, with an “energizing” effect.

Indica Cannabis , a variety found in India with thicker and darker leaves, as well as a more lethargic effect.

Cannabis Ruderalis : much smaller in size and with much shorter growth and flowering time, found in Russia.

But that has been left behind, due to the constant crosses between each type of cannabis, in order to achieve a stronger strain, all Cannabis families are practically the same, leaving their differentiation in their composition or utility.

The main psychoactive agent of Cannabis is called Tetrhidrocannabinol (THC), which is found in stems and leaves in much lower concentration; and in the resin mostly.

The second main active cannabinoid is Cannabidiol (CBD), successfully tested in several medical treatments, from the most aggressive forms of epilepsy, such as some forms of cancer and mental disorders.

Therefore, what we have today is that there are:

Marijuana (with high concentrations of THC and less than CBD): Sativa, Indica and Ruderalis

Unfortunately, Cannabis has had several stumbling blocks in its history, one of the largest, was the “Controlled Substances Act” approved in the United States in 1970, which banned all varieties of Cannabis, without distinction for its composition, classifying them all as a drug and prohibiting its cultivation, even if it was for industrial purposes as it happens with hemp, used to produce textiles, paper, biodegradable packaging, biofuel, building materials and many other things.

The benefits of differentiation

The discussion on the use and legality of each of these plants, even if they belong to the same family, must have its own land. Separating it in the legal, productive and social arena would also make it possible to differentiate the recreational, medical and welfare use of marijuana from the industrial, medicinal and utilitarian properties of hemp. Promoting research, health, industry and economics, and improving the quality of life of hundreds of patients.

In 2014, the US law once again separated marijuana from hemp, to allow its cultivation and use, recognizing that its cannabinoid profile is totally different and harmless. Thanks to this, agricultural engineering will allow the design of strains of Hemp with the possibility of adapting its composition to increasingly diverse diseases.